THE ROYAL VISIT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12071, 17 June 1901, Page 5

THE ROYAL VISIT.

TIIE DUKE IN GEYSERLAND.

A SPLENDID HISTORIC WELCOME,

PRESENTS TO THE DUKE AND DUCHESS.

MEDALS FOTI THE MAORIS.

(Br Onn Spf.ci

ATTKLAXD, Juno 15. Tlio. "Maori woli-nmo l<> tin l !)ul;u and Pnrluvs of Cornwall find Ym'k is now » nuMnovy of Hip I'li.-t. U lias I,con a unique e; ivmu'nial in th- royal lour. In no othnr (Miiulry of the world could sm-ti a d^iuuli.-ll 4 ::- ii.m lit- liiiulc. li w:is uUu in llic luart of a colony \v!mw natural liwutlics ■ and scenic Wdiulor* well he the envy of the world and i'Y a people w'huo oi'ijjn i uiul aneeslvy urn in the nii.-ts of unti- 1 (p:ity. When wo woke ll'i:-. morning l'ie me< and H'Oiifs of (lie liitliii daticfr.-t c,iril«' <(» "Hl' WtliroiK'li the friMy air from tlm riimp a inilp away on (!•<> nurroin.-e. .Arrvril (''ere. we found the representative.-: from tie different trihrs tlijmn up in front of the royal pavilion. dancing pnliinimuy \\w\nv. Alrc.nly the was anil interer-lin;;, I'ere and there were i-oleted little of Mnnris i'-at attracled the altrnlion. In Ihfi front of t!ie pavilion Tauiai Wk'.kii (Mis Donnelly), the liiifli ihicfutinrss of the, KwA tribes. -at .-nii!in aujtrovn! upon the >pViullil fellows from her Mvn trih: s. H'Me also was Te Kouiva Kuihim. the ihieftaiue.--: nf the famous Arawa tribe, who ha:l I'.lreadv Iktii jnv.-rnted to llio l)cehe-s, v.earin'p' a M>h-ndid kiwi mat over her ?hoiilde:v. S!ic is the wife of Mr Cliarhs l'ariila, the excelieu l . Maori gentleman who sil< at nsv vi«;hl liand, imm;ieu!a(e in a siiinin'.f <ilk hat and frock coat. Miss Tarawa, iiie ISuitt!i Isfaudcr, of Mr T. Parata, M.H.K., is with them. She wears a mat known ;i< knrmvai (fciliiug water). If a mat of stained Hax ami prest'i ved fibre ennworked up, and if drapes j-ra< efidly, jjMiiif the idea of falling water. Wiki'.oria K( mp i« there, too. The ];i<( time I >-i\v her she was sobbing beside the lent in which her father's body lay, ;md Ihc sword of honour presented by Ijuriii Victoria to the '.(rand oh) frj'stinj,' chief lay on his collin, over which the t'niou -lack was draped. The tens were falling down her «-heek.. like rain. Now lur face is wreathed in *niilo. 3 , On the ground, just in front of the royal pavilion, was another picturevtpie group silting down abrnl tin' model canoe which the Avawas had carved and bedecked for the Dc.ke. There is an old man with flowing white beard who well for us in the war:., (hi the canoe, resting on a Hag presented to the tribe by the Duke of Kdinburgii, is the sword of honour the old man got from the Owen, lie N not the highest chief in tlm tribe, but he was a great warrior, and his (lords have made him famous. This tribe entertained the Duke of Kdinburgh for about a month in this district. It was just after the Maori war and after the attempt on the Duke's life in Sydney. Nut the faithful Arawa'*. guarded their royal guest, and had sentries posted so that no white man could get within two miles of him. amiival or noYAi/m;s. While we are noting all these things the Duke and Duehe.-w drove up amid the cheers of the crowd. The Duchess seems more charming than ever. Over the shoulders cf Ler dark dres.-; she wears a most beautifnl kiwi mat that harmonises wclf wit!', her beautiful fair hair, and in her toipie are three of the dark, white-h'ped hiiiu fcalhus— an emblem of chieftainship. Thrsp were presented to her by the Maoris, and we are all charmed with the pretty compliment she has now paid the Maoris of the colony in driving through the town and appearing at i\a< ceremony with n Maori mat about her shoulders and the huia feathers in her bonnet. T!:o Duke, 100, wears a huia feather in his hat. Before thry are r.eated the tribes advancc with a rush towards the pavilion, and lho whole scene become# strange and beautiful beyond conception. Away on the right the steam i* rising in clouds from Pohutu. Right in the background are trec-elad hills and ferny slopes, further to the left the lake runs into the Hat land, and here, too, the sleam m°s uncannily and floats lazily over the waters in the clear morping air. further still (0 the left, behind the dark trees of the sanatorium, that make a bold middle distance, Mokoia heaves hir. bulk in air, and beyond are still lovelier lands and lakes that v.v cannot sec from (he royal pavilion. Nearer at hand, in a flight depression among th« titivoH'i'uh, the white (cuts of t':e Maori cr.eampment are peeping out in r.lriking eontiast to the dusky warriors grouped about tno stand in the immediate foreground. PRKSKXTIXC Of PKKBKXTS. One of the first presents was here handed np to the Duchess. It uw from Mrs Donnelly's people, a splendid greenstone tiki of priceless value. It has been in the tribe for generations. At one time the Natives would have given half the countrywide in land for it. Now money could not buy it. As it was handed up Mrs Donnelly was speaking jo the Duehess and Mrs Carroll, who received it in the pavilion, hung it round the neck of tho Duchess, who wore it over her kiwi mat for Ihe rest of the day. Then the Wanganni Natives, who had advanced, begun a haka of welcome, the two Tekolekos capering about in front and gesticulating strangely. Next eame the Arawa*?, waving their war clubs and stamping their feet in splendid time. "Welcome, the strangers from afar. The Dnke, eh; the Duke, eh; eome, ehj eonie, eh." This was the burden of their song. The Wimgamii haka followed. We caught some words about "The Queen, their mother," and "The Duke," The AT,'ton's have hardly as yet realised that the King is now their Sovereign, and they can never in this generation forget (,'ueen Victoria, "their great white mother." Then came the "Kamate, kamate M ehonis, winding up with "Aue! Aue!" with a long-drawn-out M c M in a hissing sound. They were mostly young fellows these "Wangauuis, and as they danced and sang their flax nials ru-stVd to fho rhythmic waving of their bodies, and their bare shins shone in Ihe sunlight. Tribe after tribe danced and sang, and while the Arawas were chanting their "powhiri," or song of welcome, Honiaima, the wife of the old, grey-headed chief, brandishing her hu-band's sword of honour, was a striking figure in the foreground with her fine feather mat, long, flowing tresses, tattooed lips, and rolling eyes. The old man, who N the proud p<i->ess»»r of this Mvord, is the hist surviving chief of all tho°e to whom the Queen gave tokens of her esteem. Of the others. Major Kemp lies buried near I'utiki pah, at Wanganui; Major Kopata's bones are resting on the fast Coast beyond Cishonie; while Mete Jvingi and Ilenata ICawaepo. too, have gone the way of all flesh. Only old Major fokiha remains, and even he has one foot in the grave, and there may never he any more swords of honour for righting Mauri heroes in New Zealand. But even old I'okiha superior to his infirmities as fhe Arawas, in splendid chorus, (bant their " powhiri." for he doffs his tweed cap, and, rising from his stands gesticulating before his tribe. The chant proceeds with reference to the Duke and the Queen who had united the people under one ling in peace and goodwill. The people of the Arawa had stuck to (lie Queen all through to the hist. I're-nns now began to eome up to the Duk'», ami a magnificent dogskin mat was placed aboul hi* shoulder*. Later on the presents begun to lie heaped up in a great pile before the Duke and Dncbcsv Yesterday the Duk" told Mrs Donnelly that he would like to buy some of the very pretlv mal< be had seen. "You will have no need to buy any. your Uoyal Highness." she replied. " All that you will have to do will be to enlarge yonr fhip so that you may carry away those presented to you." And to-day, as the presents were piling up, tho Duke told Mrs Donnelly that her words were coming true. In ali,

iai. PvEror.TF.it.)

the royal visitor.' to-day received 40 flax nints, 20 feather mat* (many of them inndo from the rare kiwi feathers), six greenstone three clubs or taiubus of carved whalebone, a largo iu«h1o1 of a canoe, and many feather kit* am! poi halls. Till-: lIAKA.S AND OTHER DANCES. ! The Hay of IMr:jll v Native came forward villi a hissing sound at (lie commencement 1 of their haka in which they welcomed the Duke, aw! imitated (he rowel's as they invito! the Duke In rune to ihem to pull hi« canoe along. They abo expressed their gua! de.-ir" to s*o to 8011 th Africa to " kicki the T'oa," or. in other words. (0 kick (lie Hoots. Willi a groat rush the Ngapuhis came forward a* to a challenge, Miti Ka Kan, a fltur old tattooed warrior, a conspicuous figure amount them. They I made a reference to .Man, their ancestor, who came over in one of (lie canoes him- 1 dtvd< and hundreds of yi-ats ago, and who, according to their ancienl tradition-!, fished up Ihe North Inland from the sea. lint j Til!-: KIXKST DANCE OP ALL ' was yet to coijie; the Ntjatilawhnreloa, from under the shadow of the volcanoes and the shores of the yveut Taupo Moana, led 1 by my excellent friend To Ik-uheu. It in some years since I met him. and lie showed ine round a Maori camp, where big fires were blazing amid the .-learning pools and fumarolos of earthquake-shaken Tokaanu. ] did not know then thnt he was the grandson <*f the great cannibal chief Te Heuhcu. who 55 year> ago stood out in front of his whare. anil, defying the powers 01 earth and water, was buried alive in Hie fvrat l-itul-lip that same down the ravine al Waihi. I»nt I knew ne.vt day, and admired him all the more in that the descendant of the old Ngatoroirangi, who canto from fav-aMav mythical Hawaii 600 years ago, and the grandson of a cannibal chief, should he so tine a gentleman. lie it was who gave to the colonv the splendid national park that includes the volcanoes of Ngaruhoe and Rnapehu. Xow his "rout desire is for the we] Tare of I he Xative race. There was no (rihe (hat gave such a splendid war daneo as these men from dbtant Tokaann. C!ad in true Maori figuring vie, barechested and hnre-limbed, with little but the rustling lb\x mats about their loine, their voice.- cleft flic air iu louder, hr-rsiier tone than the others, and the stamping of their feet, as they came down together in perfect lime made the ground tremble. With an shout the whole body leapt into (lie nir at once, and came down with a thud on the soft ground. Te Heuhcu was there like the rest of ihem, in all the glory of hi? warpaint, superintending and exhorting. A little later, when he came to receive hi* medal at the hands of the Duke, the wild warrior had transformed himself once more into Ihe sedate, courtly gentleman, wilb silk hat and frock coat. There is probably no people on the face of ihe earth who could effect. Mich a sudden transformation with such dignity in the two strangely diverse I baraeiery. Here followed a halm, in which women, wearing kiwi feather bodices and pui-pni mat* over their drives, took pari. Tl was a more sprightly welcome than any Unit had none before. ,; This is the Duke of lac/land," I hey said, "who comes to 11s thij» day with his fair lady, the chieflaine-. We welcome you to this place. Tll you we s<v the fece of our late f*ucen. lofty arid beautiful as the fkiep. Croat is our lore for her. Uh, Princes.-. you have come here to add lustre to l!te Maori people." It was now the turn of the JTawkeV Hay tribe. Mrs Donnelly, their ehieftaine=s who had been chatting pleasantly to the Diteho-s. now advaucrd to the front of the pavilion, and with a "Hacremai. haeromai M called her people tip, and then led thorn in the ,k Kamate, kamate" chorus. While this was going on Mrs Parata placed around (he Duchess's neck the splendid tiki given by Mr. j Donnelly'? tribe. She also stuck another hiiin foalhcr in the toque worn by her Royal Highness, then bowed slightly and retired. Neither she nor any of the other Maori women who wore presented to the Duchess showed the slightest nervousness or awkwardness, but were quite dignified and behaved with all the ease and grace of born gentlewomen. Thai was a feature of the splendid reecption that could no! have failed to impress the visitors. As the presents were being piled up before the Dnko and Duchess a tribe of Natives in front of the V-avilir.u broke out into a chant of lament, low and solemn, in a minor key. and all the time there was the picturesque group about the Arawa canoe, immediately in front of the royal pavilion. "\Vi Porn, M.11.R., went ronnd the tribes, lidding up the beautiful illuminated address to the Duke from the Maoris, and as he did so they sang and cheered. The address wan then laid on top of the mats, and on this more mats were piled, a group of Maoris advancing and taking them off their own shoulders to hand them up to tho Dtdie, Then Ihe dance began again, tlio rhythmic damping motion and the swaying of clubs and spears, combined with the chant of tho haka, making up a weird scene, tho effect of which was intensified just at thi? time by a plight earthquake that was distinctly felt in all Rotorua. At one end of tho front lino of the warrior.' on tho loft T thought T recognised a face, and going a littlo closer I found it was that of Ngata. M.A., LL.P., a barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Ho had doffed his European clothes, and stood there now in Maori costume once more, doing his full share in ihe haka of welcome to tho Duke. This chant went on for some time. and in it we caught some word* of tribute to the Oovcrnor. "Tho King's pillar in Now Zealand. 1 ' They did not MTtiplo, either, to make pome uncomplimentary reference* to Mahuta. the po-callcd Maori King, and bis Waikato*. and to tho prophet To Whiti, of Parihaka, who had not graced the welcome with their presence. These people, they said, have been trying to pull us in another direction, but we will not go. In this they have shown their wisdom, for Manila's political obituary was written in "Wellington over a year ago. and after the splendid success of these rejoieings bis " mana " is gone for ever. At tho conclusion of their dance the Ngatiporo, who wore clad in white singlets, with purple sashes and black loin clothe, still dancing, went down on their knees, row after row, with wonderful pre- , cision and marvellous effect, amid the cheers of the onlookers, the Duke himself applauding. The Hawko's Pay. AVairarapa, and Wairoa groups now look up tho dance. They wore of grand plivsiquo. and their brown skitn and sombre Maori drosses wore iu striking contrast lo the white and purple of tho Ngfitiporos PUKKJOTINt: Til ft C'AXOft. Now the Arawa pni girls, led by a man with a great banner of red, white, and blue, inarched up before tho Duke twisting Ihoir pois prettily. At this stage (lie canoe was presented to the Duke by the old Arawa chief. "Welcome, welcome, welcome!" he said. "Come hither from your illustrious father, and bring the love of your grandmother lo us. Come to see your Maori people. I will present you now with a model of the canoe in which our ancestors came to New Zealand from distant Hawaii. It is named "Te Arawa," alter our people. I bog of you to take it and place it in the house of your ancestor the Queen." Then Ihe tribe broke out in song again as the beautiful carved caw>" was handed ui> and laid at tho feet of the Duke, while the people cheered again. Two of the younger women were at this stage presented to the Duchess. They were To "Kongo Kaltira and Tnihapeli Parata. of Waipori, South b-luitd. \ml now tin* welcome was drawing to a ehve. TIIK MAORI COSTU.UKS. Looking across the ground the scene : Boomed more picturesque than ever. The Maori costumes were marvellous. That the . colours should be vivid seemed the first i desire of the Native women of fashion, j Grange, emerald, sapphire, and majenta ; were pressed into the service. One society | belle walked about in a tailor-made black j satin, with a novel sort of toque made out of a black and white feather boa twisted ■ round lier ,hair. Coats and skirts are much | affected by the Maori women, and they . havo them made with room and to spare : even for their capacious forms; and yet I though the Maoris wear a cerise petticoat, !a green loose.blouse, a sulphur-colourcd silk

handkerchiefs she k a colour of harmony, and cxaetly what tho landscape requires The dull monotony of the sailor hat they brighten by feather*, wreaths of Iveopodinm moss, aud coloured gauze, and tan boots buttoned high up the barn brown legs finishing of? the toilet. One original lady had apparently laid in a stock of feather dusters and dccoratcd her muslin skirt with tho brilliant feather,* until she looked like a half-fledged tropic bird. Some of the girls had the most marvellous hair, reaching almost to tho knees, and of a golden chestnut colour. As they moved, the sun at their backs edged their hair with a quivering glory that brok" and formed again as tho tresses ro?e and fell in the movement of the dance. The old men of tho tribes were splendid typos a* a rule. The baldness of civilisation had never thinned their thick white hair, and their faces were full of dignity: while their manners were perfection, and might be copied with advantage by ihe parvenu. A DOUBLE POf DAXCK. The Otaki girls commenced a double poi dance. They came up in a double line with a poi in each hand. While and red dresses alternated, and ovet the shoulder of each white-frockrd girl was a broad rod sash. The marvellous dexterity of the double poi is a thing to ho hut never imitated hv Pakeha; but those girls did it a<< I had never seen it done before. .Mr Parata, at my elbow, kept exclaiming every now and then: "My word, thai is beautiful/ 1 At tlie end of the dance the girls, still swinging their poK came round in single lino, and each one as *hr passed the Dnkc and Duche.-y deposited her "pois" in tho canoe at their feet, ft was 01:0 of the preilirst and most picturesque fea!ure> of the ceremonial. One little tnt' of y girl, a mere child, who danced in front »>f the tmiin body, was 100 '-hoif to rra'-'i up it) the canoe with her pois; but someone hi-H her up, and the Duclhv* noticing th" little iv.ite. went forward and shook her by the hand. A TorCHLVO BCKXE. Then thf Dnke ami Duelics* (she in her kiwi mat and th" buia in her low. end he still wearing the dogskin) wafted dmvn bet wren tlie tribe'.- attended onlv bv Mr Cart"!!, the Premier, and some of fho high born Maori men and women. The >uite for once were lofl behind in ihe pavilion. Their semc .» were not needed, for the Maori* in i-olid block" ol humanity, the front ranks placing their sprats aud rlnhs together, formed a wall that a cavalry charge could scarcely havo broken. There was ini proving of the parvenu permissible here, and a- the royal pair walk'-d slowly through tie* line- lo the mtuie of Mao»i welcomes one knew that lie and hi" fan* lady were <:>(v from h'irm as within ih"ir own c.vth* wall-. It wa< s! .-pleudid finale lo a splendid spoehi'le, worthv of a Uoman Knpt ror when Koine was at the zenith of il-< fame. 1 havo been endeavouring. a« we Mramod down in the roval iraiu, and later in my cabin on Ihe Tu'ane'rai, to describe ihe :-cenc-: 1 hat paved before u< to-day at Notorial, and. I feci that 1 havo failed mi.-eraMv. I feel tint no pen could do jn«tir» lo this luili;.rie welcome, v it"l its sopys and daue -s of a by-gone age. Whon Ihe kinetraio'iraph can portrav animated pictures in natural colour* and a phonogrtnm i- invented I hat rait d»al ndrqn»!"b' wiih volume of sound, it might be possible to givo some idea of the <cene. Put- one tiling 1 am Mire, notwithstanding what the Duke and Duchess have s"en or are to see, it will live for ever in (heir memories. ANOTJIKK account. Tin-: ROYAL PAitTY CHAUMPD. (Per Tnitf.d Press Association*.) AVCKLAND, .Tune 16. Maturdav morning broke with unclouded sky over Uo f orua, and everything favoured the great Maori demonstration which tin* Natives had been for wco!;« preparing iu honour of the rova! visitors. Kvoryone was early a«lir. and lone before tho hour fixed for the commencement of tho demonstration the field Ivnown as the racecourse presented a brilliant vpectaclo such as was never before witnessed in the colony. Along tho margin of the glistening lake th" vanour ro?e from hundreds of boiling and spluttering holes aud crevieis. Near the shore stood the huge canvas camp of Ihe various tribe?, and between tbir'* aud the grand stand the field was gay with tribal Dags and bannerettes. Some 5000 Maoris, in full wv.r pa'ct <u' holiday finerw were husPtog about under the general direction of tho flon. Mr Carroll, who wore over hU shoulder:; a doeskin mat and ronnd bis wai4 a ban mat. The commodious viands erected for the public worft crowded with expectant nmhitudos, and tho flat was ihroiiced with ritditsecrs. At halfna«t 9 their Rovnl Highnesses approached, heralded by tremendous cheerint?, which was renewed a« ihe roya'tie* look their ?eat« iu tho grand stand reserved for them, their sta/f. and Ministers' party. The Duke earrieil in his hand a mere, which bad been presented bv Major Pox*, and the Dueh°ss also carried a more, presented by some chieftaino.s'os. As won a< their Koval Highnews wet" se.ood Mrs Carroll pro'T»<ed and fastened on the shoulders of the Duke a handsome dogskin mal. and on the Duchess a kiwi feather mat. ' In front of the stand two bodies of Maoris, naked to the waist, wearing loin mat< of Hay and equipped a* for battle, wore masked in a square, the remainder of the tribes being formed in oobinpN farther off on the right: while t'<o poi dancers, one section wearing alternately red and white dresses, and another wearing snowy white blouses, b!ue sashes, and beautiful mat-, round the wai.-t. wore artistically grouped to tho left. «lu: ; t below Ihe royalties was an elaborately carved model of the Arawa canoe, representing one of that, name which, had conveyed th rt Arawa ancestors to New Zealand, and which was tho came of IrihaJ troubles, Thi* model was about to he presented to the Duke, with the boo-? that he would see in it the*symbol of the Arawa section of his people, who had been loyal supporters of the mana of (}ueen Victoria. The Governor sat on ihe riirht of Ihe Duke, and the Premier next t«» the Duchess. ' DANCI-S AND PRESENTATIONS. As the last liar of the National Anthem cased, on the royalties taking their seah, the yoUd column?----the Ngapnhis and Arawas --opened the proceeding? with a haka dance ; and chant?. Ihe whole body of men moving 1 with machine-like precision. Old Major Pox, with sword in hand, was wonderfully j aet>ve, and looked every inch a real war chief. The men went through all the savage warlike gesticulations which characterised 1 the fighting days of the frib", Tho chiefs. robed in skim and mat«, and carrying wea- | pons, hu wildly up and down in front of and between the ranks, and the chieftainI os?es in front outdid the men in the ferocity 1 of their expressions, tho rolling of evebah . and the lolling of tongues, Tho Ngaite- | rangis next came forward from the roar with a rush. Clad in flax loin mats, thov ehauled 1 a song of welcome, and sang a fierce old- ' (inn* war song. These were followed by I another tribe of semi-naked warriors, who | danced a haka. lo the admiration rtf all the 1 spectators, and then retired. At this stage I the cbieflainesses laid a handsome mat at ' the fool (if Ihe royal seat. The Arawas , again began a haka. in which they sang. | should, and gesticulated in a manner that would havo exhausted trained athlete*, but Fcemod never to weary them. They slapped I their breads with fury, clapped hands. , stamped with a noise resembling that of a j herd of buffaloes in full Higld. and shouted at tho top of their voices. Their songs of welcome and love, however, wore somewhat I plaintive and melodious. Other tribes, in : rustling mats, came on in succession, and | wont through a somewhat similar performance. Then came forward once more tho ; Ngailorangi men, this time without spoors, 1 to sing songs of welcome. The tenor of the greeting was: -" O welcome here; draw 1 near to us, O our treasure-* from afar." As thov retired they gave ringing hurrahs. The ■ warriors of tho extreme north succeeded I Ihem, dancing a haka and singing of welcome. I A real war dance was the next item on the pioyrammo, and rroved the most interesting I of the series. The Ngatitawdiaretoa tribe I bad remained massed to Iho right of the ot Iters at fouio distance ofT, and these were I now to show how they accepted a challenge to fight and comported themselves in deal- ■ wi'h the foe, etc. Heuhcu, a young I chief, bare-legged and loin-matted, approaching the masked columns, Hung bis spear at I them, turned, and then ran forward at full speed, pursued by some 200 brawny warriors at a great rush, coming lo a iialt in front of the royal sland iu battle order. Hero they >ang a song of welcome, and then the war dance began. The; Maoris yelled, 1 jumped, stamped, prostrated themselves on tlie ground, rolled eyeballs, lolled their , tongue* out in a frightful manner, and went through various other movements indicative ! of how they killed enemies and treated cap-

tives. It was highly realistic, and their marvellous evolutions in the wild war dance were greeted with tokens of approbation from royalties arid llie thunderous nuplauso of the spectators. The whole of the tribes then combined, and formed a splendid spectacle as I hey danced and gesticulated in perfect unison, chanting fong,s at intervals. Tery were physically a splendid body of men,'and must have greatly improfid their Highnesses. Kacli tribe in turn laid mats, meres, and other articles at Ihe fool of royalties, r.ome historical, all of beautiful or curious design. Tho spare in front of the royal pavilion was literally filled with mats of various shapes and make and greenstone meres. Several units were composed of pea(oek feathers. Included in the presents was a tlax waistcoat of a brilliantly-dyed pattorn. which created a smile on the faces of the crowd as it was exposed to the view of tlie Duke. A smile went round also as pulpitis of flax strings were handed to the Duchess. A historic flax flag was included in the gifts. Mrs Carroll placed around the Duchess's neck a greenstone tiki, and tho pile of gifts in the pavilion was surmounted by an address of welcome splendidly framed. The' chief presentation was the carved canoe of the Arawe.s by Major Fox, who performed the function willi great dignity, making a brief address, which was interpreted by Captain -Mail'. The poi dancing followed the hr.kas, and was in marked contrast to the latter. There was an air of peace and joy about the performance and ill.- performers (hat charmed all. Dressed as stated, the damsels, some handsome, all pleasing, came forward in double line, with outstretched arniF. the hands of each touching the other's shoulder.'. Then they faced muml to (heir lligliitcs-es and chanted sweetly songs of welcome, rhythmically waving little balls of ranpo. Their evolutions were extremely giaccful, and as a spectacle probably no more picturesque or striking grouping was ever witnessed on euy idage. Al one time they were accompanied by a couple of fiddles and a concertina, at another by a banjo and jow's harp. The lapses were bright and smiling, and their graceful performances qnife delighted I heir Itoyal Highue-ses. At the close of the dimeiui; all tlit? girls inarchrd pant the dais c.nd laid their pois al the feet .if the Duke and Duche-.s. I'IiKSKXTATIOX OK MKDALS. The preseulalion of o9 commemoration medals to the chiefs of the tubes by the Duke concluded the proceedings, but beforo this took place Ihe Duke and Duchess left the pavilion and strolled among the groups of Natives, the Duclie.ss shaking hands with one dusky child who had specially attracted her attention. lloyal Highnesses were shortly joined by Mr Xoddon. Mrs Seildon, and Mr Ward, and all'proceeded to a tablo wh-ro the medals awaited distribution. The Duke (lieu addte,--ed (lie chiefs through the Hon. Mr Carroll, as wired. (!old medals were also presented to Mrs Donnelly, eliieftiiiuoss, lfawke's Hay, and Inihapiti f'arata, of tin; Arawa people. Ou the obverse was in-cribs'd:—"Tl I'. 1.," signifying their Itoyal Highnesses' visit to the colonies. On the rovers" wa< a medallion portrait of tho Duke and Duchess. The Oovernment kineinatograph was at work tlirouglioul (lie interesting demonstration, ami dozens of photographers and amateur suapshotters were in evidence. The death of the Maori chief Ilohepa Xikutaia. 74 years of age. one of the chiefs of Tauranga. who died in camp at the racecourse was kept, quiet.so .as not to disturb the proceedings to-day. I)KI'AKTU.IiM. J''<lit AUCN'f.AXD. The royal party entrained at 12.30. being e.-corted lo the-trim by Native and Kuropean troopers and Xntivc bands. The wholo population turned oil! to witness the donarturc. The royalties lunched in a earriaeo at Araliiwi: while others were provided with lunch in a largf l . pavilion. The journey to Auckland was'pleasant, and the royal parly reached the city at 7.25. DKT'ARTUHK I'OR Wf-ILIiIXCTOX. At Auckland an enormous concourse assembled. The Duke and Duchess were driven amid cheers to the Ophir. which left this morning, accompanied by the escort ships, for Wellington. AMOXfi THK CKYSKRS. We make the following extract from a message which should have reached us on Friday evening, hut which for some unexplained reason was not forwarded The scene at Whakarewarewa on Friday morning was quite unique. Many thnuKiiids of Xalives and lluropeaus, inor.t of the former in picturesque Maori costume, swarmedabout the rugged volcanic mound?, spluttering mud-holes, seething cauldrons, and wonderful intermittent geysers. Groups of iccii, women, and children formed around tho various "shows" of Dame .Vaturo, some on lieightr. half-hidden in green scrub, some on rcpulsive-lcoking silicate and sulphur mounds, some down declivities suggestive of a -cone from Dante's " Inferno." The stilpl'iuoii.- spray from (he furiously boiling potholes spattered tho royal visitors, and sulphurous fumes assailed the nostrils, while geysers shot scalding columns of water high into the air with a roar and fury, and their Highnesses found themselves among sights and sounds that must have been an interesting horror to them. Amid till these scenes the royalties passed minutely inspecting; each in company with one or other of the .Ministers, and at each point being snapshotted from a multitude of cameras. When the royal party reached this ebullant locality the I'oliutu geys.'T was in full activity, sending up columns of water to a considerable height. A belter sight, however, had been prepared fo>- the royalties in the enforced eruption of 111.' Wairoa gcy.-er, which lias a tendency to hide its forces It is a large, ugly hole at the foot of a rugged silicate hillock, which is. hot and steaming' from many fractures. It might lie likened somewhat to that which shot up the snbtevrestrial exploring professor iu Verne's story, for it apparently readied into the very bowels of the earth. To sel it on a show fooling, Mr Clark, Government inspector at- Whakarewarewa, v.ho acted as master of the ceremonies to the underground demons, fed it with a bag of soap. Within a few minutes thereafter the demons responded, and, with a loud report. a volume of boiling sulphurous water rose lo lht> surface. In a pucee'sion' of jerks up it wont ever higher and higher, until a huge pillar of water, wide at the base, but narrowing aloft, and ending iu feathery spray, rose lo' a height of about 100 ft. ft was a glorious sight, and one which the royalties are lik"lv to remember as among the most interesting of their experiences in Ihir. remarkable part of the colony. Pohiitu wa- subsequently bribed with soap, but refused lo respond in lime to enable it to lift seen by the royal visitors.

al 9 p.m. the same evening. Dunedin volunteers who intend making t!io trip will parade at 10.30 the same evening at tho liarrison Hall, and leave by train at 11.20 li.in. They will pick up the Palmcrston Kiflcs at Palmerston at 0.10 a.m., the Hampden Rifles at Hampden at 1.5 a.m., and the Oamaru Infantry at- Oamaru at 6 a.m. on the 23rd inst. Kvery man must have eamp equipment rolled in a handy-sized swag, and labelled with the owner's namo and the name of the company. The senior officer on each troop train will tie in command of fame, and he responsible for flu conduct of the troops while en route. It will he his duty to collect correct states of nil units on his train, to bo handed to detraining staff officer on arrival at Christchurch. He should also appoint a N.C.O. to take charge of each van, to see that his instructions re alighting from train, etc., at stations are carried out. O. C. Corps will havo parade and marching-in states ready before entraining. The Tuapoka Tinws says it is expected that fully 60 members of the Tuapcka. Mounted Ritles will take part in the royal reception in Duncdin. They will leavo Lawrence by -special train on Sunday. 23rd inst., but special arrangements have been made so that members who find it impossible to go on Sunday will be carried frea on Tuesday morning. Their horses and luggage in list, however, go on Sunday. fIKXKUATi XOTKS. His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin has arranged, with the approval of his l-lxcel-leuoy (lie (»overuor, that en tho occasion of the city address al the Octagon on the P.Oth iii'-t., a bouquet shall be presented to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Coinwall and York by Mis? Dennislon, daughter of the Mayor, and granddaughter of ihe late lion. W. 11. Reynold.*: and also that on Hie arrival of the royal party at the railway station on the 25th a bouquet shall be pi'Menlcd to lirr Royal Highness by Miss Vera Chapman, daughter of Mr I''. 15. Chapman, chairman of the Koyal Commissioners, and granddaughter of the late .Mr Justin. Chapman. Residents of the upper pari? of High Ward have entered enihusiasticaliy into the erection of a huge bonlirr, and having been appealed lo by two member.' of the executive for fund-- have subscribed liberally to Ihe project. The names will lie published in due course. The bonfire will be on the Town Melt, at the brad of ltussell street. Tl;e royal parly ami the (Jm erniiieni parly coming to Duiiediu number about 50. Several shopkeepers of the city with a doorway in their premises intend to make use of the space on the occasion of the proee-vioii. One gentleman informs us ihat he is having trestles made on which lie will place .--ilisiaiitial planks of wood, with a barricade in front. The structure will bfi small, but sufficient io enable the family party to see over the crowd and view the proeevsiim. lV?e-« for prep-mcn, vi-i;ing and local, will be issued on applicants being accredited by ihe Otago branch of the Journalis's' Institute. I'l Auckland provision was made at the public function* fur 32 reporters. Souvenir cards are to he issued bv the Dingo Agricultural and Pastoral Rociety on the occasion of the vi-it of their Koyal lligiii:e-;es- lo the show. Tl:» card ?'-■ neatly designed by Messrs .1. Wilkie and Co.. and will no doubt be kept as a worthy memento of the dav. Messrs A. J. Uarth and X. 11. He!!, the sMli-coipniitlfe appointed, have completed !lie musical arrangements for the evening nedition. A cha-te t-ouvenir prom-ammo has been put in hand, a copy of which will probably be sen! out with every invitation. The rpecial urogram ines for the fluke and Duchess of Cumwall and Yor': sx-n c! a. moft unique character. They were designed bv .ilr I!. Jlawcridge. and will no doubt bo on view a few days lvforo the ceremony. We luive (o rail addition in Ihe advertise, lnent in this issue dealing with the sale of tickets of admission to the CaMonvn ground on the occasion of the school eh'.'dren's denim*. ; fration on Wednesday, the 26th inst. The plan of the grand stand would have ben on view earlier, wo undo-, stand, had not provision lo lie made for 130 additional seats. The plan will be view at the Dresden warehouse after 12 o'clock to-day. Special attention is directed to two additional facts—nonperforinitig children'* tickets may be procured from tho bead, masters of all schools, and performers must enter 1 lie ground from the rear of the stand, under charge of their teachers.

THE VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 15. (Received .Tune 16, at 4.56 p.m.) It is officially announced that the Duke ami Duchess of Cornwall will arrive at Kinionstown on August 17. WKLLIXfiTOX NOTES. (Froii Our Oivx Oouresvoxdent.) WELLIXUTOX, .lime 16. Large numbers of people tool: the opportunity on Saturday afternoun to go over the route of (lie royal procession and view the arclic-. and decirations. The stmo tiling is huppming today. Tliu weather is damp and threatening. A certain amount of Sunday work is being dene, lint the preparations generally arc well forward. Maori devices and mottos figure hugely in the transparencies prepared for next week's illuminations. Some of these pictorial displays were tried on Saturday night, when the principal streets wore packed with people. At least one restaurant has decided to keep open day and during the royal visit. Several temporary eating places and hmrli-eouiitcrs have been opened. There are numerous spcciul shop window displays at the present time. One that is closely inspected, especially liy ladies, is at the establishment of a Willis street hairdresser. It consists nf a scries of wax busts, illustrating the mode of the Duchess of Cornwall's coiffures. Every hour of the day this exhibition draws crowds of interested women and girls. As a result of the conference between the Hon. W. Hall-Jones and the local Reception Commissioners, 24 gentlemeu have been appointed as stewards for the reception to lie held at the Parliamentary Buildings on Wednesday night. Wellington will have at least one permanent memorial of the royal visit. A dwelling which is being erected at Plimmer's steps lias the following inscription in huge stucco letters on its pediment:—"June 18, 1901. A day to bo remembered, in honour of the visit of the Duke and Uuchcss of Cornwall and York." The Defence department notifies that officers of cadet corps will he granted acting honorary appointments in the ranks in which they an' employed during the review at Cliristeburcli. to take effect from the date of leaving headquarters until the return of corps thereto. 'ltlli CHRISTCHIiKCH REVIEW. Instructions as regards the time of departure of the Otago volunteers for the review at (.'hristchurch are contained in a district order, which appeals in another column. The Maniototo Mounted Rifles will entrain at Uan'urly at 12.30 p.m. and Hyde at 2.15 p.m., the Oivaka Rifles at Owaka at 2 p.m., tlio Kaitangata, Rides at Stirling at 4.18 p.m., and the Bruce Ritlos at Milton at 5.5 p.m. on Saturday, 22nd inst. These troops from,Dunedin^by...fecial,-traia